The Kenai River and Kasilof River both have King Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, and Silver Salmon that migrate up their glacially fed waters. Each of these salmon runs has its own unique signature, start date, and end date but also these runs overlap with each other at various times of the salmon run. At certain times in the summer, when these runs overlap we can target both species on a single day of fishing.
Kenai River King/Sockeye Combo Guided Fishing
Kenai River Sockeye/Silver Combo Guided Fishing
Kasilof River King/Sockeye Combo Guided Fishing
Kasilof River Sockeye/Silver Combo Guided Fishing
Kenai River King/Sockeye Combo Guided Fishing
Available: July 1 - July 31
Best Dates: July 15 - July 31
July 1st marks the beginning of the late-run Kenai River sockeye salmon run. It also marks the beginning of the 2nd run of Kenai River king salmon. These two runs overlap and we can target both king salmon and sockeye salmon on the same day.
King salmon fishing ends by regulation on the Kenai River and Kasilof River on July 31st. While there are plenty of king salmon entering the river each day through the first two weeks of August, we can no longer target them. This is why our sockeye salmon and king salmon trips are only available from July 1 to July 31st on the Kenai River. After July 31st we move to sockeye only or sockeye and silver combo trips.
Kasilof River King/Sockeye Combo Guided Fishing
Available: Aug 1 - July 31
Best Dates: July 10 - July 31
As we do on The Kenai River, we offer King/Sockeye combo guided fishing trips the Kasilof River. The Kasilof River sockeye start entering the river around mid-June and continues through mid-August.
The Kasilof River king salmon fishery differs from the Kenai in that it has a hatchery king program that brings back king salmon to the Kasilof River starting in May along with the wild king salmon also returning to the river. Combining this king salmon fishery and the sockeye fishery is a great day of fishing.
The regulations on the Kasilof River king salmon fishery are typically a little more relaxed than that of the Kenai River. If you catch a Kenai River king salmon you are required to stop fishing for the remainder of the day. This is not the case on the Kasilof. In addition, you are allowed to keep up to 2 Kasilof River king salmon until June 30th if one of them is a hatchery king salmon. Starting in July the limit is 1 per person per day.
Kenai River Silver & Sockeye Combo Guided Fishing
Available: Aug 1 - Aug 20
Best Dates: Aug 7 - Aug 15
As the sockeye salmon run starts to decline, the silver salmon begin their migration into the Kenai River. They will run very strong through the first two weeks of August or so and then they begin to decline rapidly. This means there is a very short window of around 20 days or so when we can target both sockeye salmon and silver salmon on the same guided fishing trip.
It’s worth noting that on even-numbered years the pink salmon flood into the Kenai River in such huge numbers you’d swear you could walk across them. They are big, and hard fighting, and will strike at nearly anything put in front of them. It’s not uncommon to catch several dozen in a day’s guided fishing trip.
Kasilof River Silver & Sockeye Combo Guided Fishing
Available: Aug 1 – Aug 20
Best Dates: Aug 10 – Aug 18
Our Kasilof River Sockeye salmon and Silver Salmon Combo trips are always some of our clients’ favorite trips. There is a very short window of only around 3 weeks when we can offer this trip. The Kasilof River Sockeye Salmon and Silver Salmon Combo is the overlap between the end of the Kasilof River Sockeye Run and the beginning of the Kasilof River Silver Salmon run.
The most optimum time for doing this combo trip is typically between August 10 and August 18th. After August 18th we’ll only target silver salmon as there will be very few sockeye entering the river after that. However, the silver salmon fishing will continue to get better and better through August and through September.
Silvers on the Kasilof River run about the same size as the Kenai River averaging 7-10 pounds, with some going as high as 12-13 lbs. Unlike the Kenai, the Kasilof has a single run of silvers and once they start arriving in strength, the fishing is excellent.
Interested in booking a Kenai River Silver Salmon Fishing trip or a Kasilof River Silver Salmon Fishing Trip. Select from one of our dedicated Silver Salmon Fishing Trips below or select a combo/multi-species salmon fishing trips available on selected dates.